Full Frills Recruitment

[tcsparky]

I remember that there were 4 sororities, and 4 rounds of Rush (yes, it was that long ago). Most Recruitment events took place off campus in Alumnae homes or at locations in the town (like the Country Club). Each sorority was assigned one night to provide transportation to the events. The sorority had to provide automobiles that were all the same color- white, black, red, blue. It looked very impressive!!

All of the Rushees would wait in the lobby of the dorm they were all staying in, and when their name was called, they got into the car waiting at the end of the sidewalk. The whole cavalcade then pulled out together. Rushees dressed up, either in dressy shorts, skirts or dresses. The sororities had almost totally matching outfits each day. Yes, it sounds corny, but looked amazing!

Yes, there were skits and decorations and food......not the $1,000s of dollars spent at SEC schools, but a great deal for the size of our school and Greek life.

For Bid Day, each sorority took a different part of the grassy square in front of the Student Union, holding large letters, signs, balloons (I remember the Tri-Deltas had dolphins!) and t-shirts. The Tri-Deltas also wore dresses. It was the late 80s, so there were puffy sleeves, overskirt thingies, polka dots and BIG hair. Two groups wore matching Bid Day shirts and shorts (I think khaki), and then the 4th group wore matching t-shirts and non-matching bottoms (some wore jeans, khaki shorts, jean shorts, etc...).

Bids were given to the Rushees inside the lobby, then the doors were opened, and a flood of Rushees streamed out, running to their new sisters. There was lots of screaming, jumping and picture-taking.

I've been told that now all events take place on campus, no more skits, videos and small craft for philanthropy and minimal decorations. No food at any round but Preference.

[LionTamer]

I think I've told this story, but we had a "semi-frills" rush in the 80s, meaning that the actual dollars spent were limited, but people were allowed to receive token gifts (a flower, a hand-made booklet, etc) and we were allowed to go nuts with the decorating as long as it was done with very little money.

The thing was, at the last pref party, you could SEE where the girls had been by the "token" gifts they were carrying.

Our sorority was the "safety" sorority for a lot of girls - we lost a lot of our rush crushes to the Chi O's and Thetas, who were considered "top tier". It was the very last preference party of what is one of the longest rushes in the country (at least in the number of parties - we had either 16 or 19 sororities at the time and 4 rounds of parties, no photos and no resumes). I was last-minute co-rush chairman (the elected chair dropped out of school for the term) and also the only calligrapher, so I was beyond exhausted and cranky. The girl sitting across from me was cute as a button, sitting ramrod straight, poised and perfect. (We, on the other hand were known as the more relaxed "fun" girls). She was clutching a book whose cover I couldn't see, and a yellow carnation tied up with Chi O yellow-and-white ribbons.

"I am SO torn about which sorority to choose."

I looked her in the eyes, shook my head, and said, sarcastically "Don't kid yourself. You know exactly where you want to go."

Later, I felt bad for having been so rude to her, but it had been a LONG rush.

On bid day, this same person came running into the suite (each sorority went out and collected it's PNMs, rather than have a big campus get-together like they do now). She ran right up to me, and gave me a big hug.

"I honestly didn't know what I was going to do until you said 'You know exactly where you want to go'!!!!! I wanted to go ASA but my friends were telling me to go ChiO. Thank you so much!!!"

Okay then.

But she did become our President, so there's that.

[33girl]

When I went thru, Alpha Sigma Tau gave out notepads with their name (written out) and mascot on them.

After rush, I crossed out the "Tau" on all the pages and wrote "Alpha."

I promise this wasn't as snarky as it sounds.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by 33girl

When I went thru, Alpha Sigma Tau gave out notepads with their name (written out) and mascot on them.

After rush, I crossed out the "Tau" on all the pages and wrote "Alpha."

I promise this wasn't as snarky as it sounds.

But it's totally weird....

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Titchou

But it's totally weird....

Hey, it was a perfectly good notepad that I wasn't about to waste. Plus their mascot was cute :-)

[BraveMaroon]

Originally Posted by LionTamer

"I am SO torn about which sorority to choose."

I looked her in the eyes, shook my head, and said, sarcastically "Don't kid yourself. You know exactly where you want to go."

I love this. Glad it worked out!

[Loyally Kappa]

Originally Posted by tcsparky

I've been told that now all events take place on campus, no more skits, videos and small craft for philanthropy and minimal decorations. No food at any round but Preference.

Since the girls are now advised (by we here at GC) to carry bottles of water in their recruitment tote bags, they might not even be getting water or ice at their Ice Water Teas ...